Are you shopping
for an engagement ring?
Learn everything you need to know before you buy!

Engagement
Ring
Diamond Carat Guide

Carat
weight is a measure of a diamond's size. The word "carat"
comes from the ancient method of weighing diamonds: by balancing them
on a scale with carob seeds! Of course, technology has become much
more sophisticated, and measurements more precise; yet the terminology
is a reminder of the long history of these gems.

One
carat weighs one-fifth of a gram, or 200 milligrams. When diamonds
are smaller than one carat, their weight is expressed as a fraction
of a carat, or in "points." One carat equals 100 points.
Therefore, 3/4 carat (.75 carat) equals 75 points, 1/2 carat
(.50 carat) equals 50 points, 1/4 carat (.25 carat) equals 25
points, etc. Points are an easier way to express more complicated
fractions, such as .43 carat, or 43 points.

Diamond
measurements will vary, but to give you a rough idea, a one
carat round diamond will usually measure around 6.5 millimeters
in diameter. A 1/2 carat diamond will measure around 5 millimeters
in diameter, and a 1/4 carat around 4 millimeters. It is important
to note that diamond dimensions can vary considerably (ie.,
a one carat diamond will not always measure 6.5 mm in diameter).
If you are purchasing a diamond for a specific mounting, you
will usually need to know what size diamond (in millimeters)
will fit into the mounting.

Carat
weight is the most significant factor in determining the price of
a diamond. As you might expect, the larger the diamond, the higher
the price. The increase in price with size, however, is a bit more
complicated. A one carat diamond is not simply double the price of
a half carat diamond. The price of a diamond rises exponentially,
rather than linearly, with size. Mother Nature gives us many more
smaller diamonds than larger ones; if a thousand rough diamonds are
dug from a mine, only one or two may be large enough to yield a one
carat finished stone. Since larger diamonds are much rarer, they are
much more expensive.

Budget
is not the only factor to consider when choosing your diamond's carat
weight; the tastes and lifestyle of the wearer are also important.
Everyone assumes that a woman wants the biggest diamond possible;
however, this is not always true. Some women feel more comfortable
wearing a smaller diamond, as it may be more suitable to their personality,
or their workplace. Others who are very active, or use their hands
a lot (like nurses), often prefer engagement rings with smaller diamonds
for a very practical reason: smaller stones do not project outward
from the ring as much, and are therefore less likely to catch on things
during the day.

Selecting
a carat weight involves striking a balance between size and quality.
The largest stone available at a certain price (say $2000) will usually
have the poorest color and clarity; for that same $2000, you can purchase
a smaller stone of better color and clarity. It's a matter of deciding
what characteristics are important to you, and then finding the best
combination that fits your budget.